Surf board attachment



y 1932- w. L. WHEELER SURF BOARD ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 2, 1931 illustrating the invention as having been en1 Patented July 5, 1932 UNrrE n STATES PATENT. OFFICE WILLIAM L. WHEELER, 0F Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA SURF BOARD ATTACHMENT Application ,filed September 2, 1931. Serial No. 560,766..

Thisinvention relates to improvements-in surf boards.

An object of the inventionis to provide 10 rate. The improved impeller construction is so designed as to assume an inoperative or idle position when the surf board is moving against the direction of flow or when the surf board is moving at a greater speed than that 15 of the water.

Another object of theinvention is to provide an impeller device for surf boards which can be applied to a conventional surf board with a minimum amount of alterationof the surf board.

25 direction of movement of the surf board can be controlled to a limited extent.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, referenceis had to the accompanying drawing for an illustrative embodiment of the invention wherein: v

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a surf board bodied thereon.

Fig. 2 is a partial view in vertical section through the surf board, illustrating the impeller in operative position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating the impeller in inoperatve or idle position.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 4'4 upon Figure 2.

F ig. 5 is a vertical section similar to Figure E2, illustrating a modified form of construction.

Fig. 6 is a partial view in top plan, illustrating the construction shown in Figure 5.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,

wherein similar reference characters designatesnnllar parts throughout the surf board to which the invention is shown as having been appliedis indicated by the reference character 101" This surf board may be of any a conventional or preferred construction. In applying the device, I secure a small block or cleat 11 to the under side of the board such as by nails or screws 12- I then bore a hole 13' V in the boardfor the reception of a bolt 14. i

A stop means indicatedat 15 is provided which is in the nature of a block presenting a vertical rear surface 16. This block has a recess 15a formed in its upper surface which receives the block or cleat 11. The stop 15 presents on its under surfacea forwardly tapering downwardly convex surface so .as to ofl'ena minimum resistance to the water and in the. event that, through accident the surf board should encounter other bathers the stop will not present a sharp edge which wouldbe apt to injure. 7

The impeller is indicated by the reference character 17 and is in thenature of a transversely extending section of metal or equivalent material. This section extends substantially thecomplete width of the surf board 10 although it is slightlyshorter as shown in Figure 4. It is secured to the under side of the surf board as by hinges'18. The entire ,constructionwhen. mounted on the surf board is preferably secured near the forward end of-the board as shownin Figure 1. I

Thezopera'tion and advantages of the construction are as follows. In riding abreaker the surf attempts to rush toward the shore at a considerably greater velocity than that is preferably squared to receive a handle 27 by a suitable latch indicated at 19 which may be mounted on the side of the board and which is designed to be manually operated to release the impeller and permit it to assume the position shown in Figure 2.

In the modification shown in Figures 5 and ,1

board and having a handle operable by a 6, the block 20 which provides the stop for the impeller 21 is mounted on the under side 7 of the surf board in any suitable manner and v the impeller is fastened as by hinges 22 to a plate 23. This plate bears against a plate 24 mounted on the under sideof the surf board 25 and carriesa bolt 26. The top of the bolt' which extends transversely: across the top of the board. This handle can be swung about the bolt 26 as a center' and will rotate .vary its transverse position with respect to the board. I p

' 3. A surf board having an impeller, means for hingedly mounting the impeller upon the under side of the board so as to be capable of swinging rearwardly adjacent the under side of the board into an idle position, said means being rotatably adjustable with respect to the surf board rider riding upon the upper surface of the board for rotatably adjusting the impeller to vary its transverse position with' respect to the board, and means limiting the forward swinging movement of the impeller to an impelling position.

-' In testimony. whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

' WM. L. \VHEELER.

plate 23 and thus vary the transverse position of the impeller 2l with respect to the board. The stop 20, as shown in Figure 6, is preferably diamond shaped in plan althoughit likewise presents a rounded convex lower surface. The rear converging sides of the stop permit the transverse adjustment of the impeller as above described. In all positions, however, the rear edge of the stop is present to limit the downward and forward movement of the impeller to the position shown in Figure 5. By swinging the handle and thus adjusting the position of the impeller, it is possible to guide the movement of the surf board to a limited extent. From the above described construction it will be appreciated that an improved surf board has been designed which will'facilitate the catching of breakers, causing the surf board and rider to be quickly brought up to the speed ofthe breaker and impelled thereby toward the shore. 7,

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: A 1. A surf board having an impeller hingedly mounted upon the under side of the board so as to be capable of swinging rearwardly against the under side' of the board into an idle position, and means limiting the forward swinging movement of the impeller to an impelling position, said impeller being rotatably adjustable so that its transverse position with respectto the boardmay be varied.

2. A surf board having'an impeller hing- 

